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VOL. 178, NO. 3
Murder trial begins in Pike County By BETH ZUMWALT Pike Press Approximately 100 prospective jurors gathered at the Pike County Courthouse Monday morning to report for jury duty. The case was the murder trial in the death of Donald “Tiny” Collard. The defendant is Charles T. Allen, Collard’s ex-son-in-law of Missouri. The jury of nine women and three men and both a male and female alternate were chosen by approximately 6 p.m. Monday evening. The jury, attorneys, court personnel and the defendant returned to court Tuesday morning to begin the trial. Seated at the defense table was Walker Filbert, local attorney who has assisted in the case, the defendant, Charles Allen, David James and
Charles James, lead defense attorneys in the case. Opening arguments for the prosecution were presented by Leecia Carnes, assistant state’s attorney for Pike County. David James of St. Peters, Mo., gave opening arguments for the defense. Carnes told the jurors that Allen had been contacted by his daughter, wanting him to come and get her after she and her mother had an argument. “The texting between the daughter and Allen began about 3:30 p.m.,” Carnes told the jurors. “Her father told her he would send Faith Henry (Allen’s step-daughter) to pick her up.” The daughter then called her grandmother, Denise Collard, wife of the victim, to pick her up and made arrangements for Henry to pick her up at
the Collard residence. Several texts were exchanged between the daughter and her father. According to Carnes, Henry and Allen arrived at the Collard home, but after, Denise Collard had told the girl she could not allow her to go with her father. When a truck with Missouri plates arrived at the Collard home, Tiny Collard said he would go out and tell the occupants the girl was not leaving. When Collard returned to the residence, he came in the back door, fell into a counter and slumped to the floor. He words were “I’ve been stabbed.” Missy Allen, Collard’s daughter and the juvenile’s mother, went outside in time to see the truck pulling away from the house. She gave pursuit before stopping at Police Chief Zack Orr’s house to
obtain help. David James, told the jurors, Allen’s only concern that evening of March 26 was the well being of his daughter. The defense agreed with much of what Carnes presented up until the time Collard exited the house. They say Collard became violent and that Allen tried to fight him off as Collard attempted to pull him from the truck, threatening him. Allen later admitted to having two knives in his truck and said he panicked on the way back to Missouri and threw one out the window. He also said he had guns in his vehicle but had taken them out before coming to Illinois due to the difference in state laws. “Charles rolls down the window when Tiny came out,” James said. “Collard began yelling at him and threatening
him.” James said Allen had heard throughout the years what a fighter Collard was in his younger days and was concerned about a physical altercation. Photographs taken at the time of Allen’s arrests will show bruising according to James. “If he had not attacked Charles Allen, Donald Collard would be alive today,” James said. “If he had waited for law enforcement to arrive he would be alive today. Dozens of witness have been subpoenaed to testify at the trial, although both sides say they are unsure if they will call all of those subpoenaed. Pike County Sheriff Chief Deputy Zack Orr was the first witness called by the prosecution.
New voting machines and ballots for voters in March By BETH ZUMWALT Pike Press Natalie Roesberry, Pike County Clerk, is upgrading the county clerk’s office and saving money in the process. Roseberry recently ordered new voting machines for each of the county’s precincts. The machines have touch screens, a remote control for those in a wheelchair who may not be able to get close enough, aids for the hearing impaired and a Braille feature for the visually handicapped. “We will still have the regular ballots,” Roseberry said. “I would never just throw this out there and expect people to adapt. We will ease into it.” The new machines will allow each vote to be counted as if it were a paper ballot and uses a narrow piece of paper instead of the familiar over-sized ballot. There is little to no chance of vote tampering. “There will be no waste,” Roseberry said. “We can print our ballots ourselves and if we run out, we can print more. The savings on paper alone is estimated to be about $3,000 per election. The new machines will resemble an I-Pad with a touch screen. It will limit the number of people a voter can vote for in a multi-person race. “For example, county board election says vote for four,” Roseberry said. “In the past, if a voter accidentally voted for five, the ballot was tossed out. This machine will not let you over vote. It will let you change your vote if
you desire.” Roseberry said tossed ballots usually account for approximately one percent of votes cast in each election. “This way every ballot will count,” she said. The machines were purchased through a zero interest program and should be paid off within five years. “And the equipment is 20 year equipment,” Roseberry said. “Once the equipment is paid for, we should see an increase in savings per election as much as $20,000 to $30,000. Rosemary plans to unroll the new machines at the election judges school, Feb. 27. Roseberry said election judges are needed and if anyone is interested to contact her office. She also said she hopes to be able to do a FaceBook video before early voting starts, Feb. 6 to demonstrate the new machines and their ease. Anyone who would like to stop by the county clerk’s office and preview the new machines and procedures is welcome to do so. Beth Zumwalt/Pike Press
Dena Stinebaker, deputy county clerk, demonstrates the ease and accessibility of new voting machines that will be used during the March 17 primary. The machines will allow handicapped voters more privacy in voting and will also save the county money by using smaller ballots. Older style ballots will still be available for those requesting the more familiar option.
Hemp production piques Pearl woman interest in Pike County By DAVID CAMPHOUSE Pike Press Approximately 50 prospective hemp producers attended a Friday, Jan. 10 hemp workshop at the Pittsfield Farm Bureau building. Attendees heard from speakers who presented on topics including hemp production strategies, products that can be made with hemp, and government regulations affecting hemp production, processing and sales. According to Pike County Economic Development Corporation (PCEDC) director Brenda Middendorf, the workshop generated a lot of local interest from land owners. “Most of those in attendance were from Pike County, but we had several from Adams, Brown, and other surrounding counties,” Middendorf said. Hemp production is gaining traction throughout the country and here in Illinois, as well. In fact, 2019 was the first year that Illinois residents could legally grow hemp, but even in that first year of legal production, the Illinois Department of Agriculture licensed more than 20,000 acres for hemp production. During the workshop, Bill Bodine, Illinois Farm Bureau Director of Business & Regulatory Affairs, discussed the requirements for receiving a license to grow industrial hemp and the associated state and federal rules and regulations. Because of the hemp plant’s resemblance to it’s mid-altering relative, cannabis, there are tight regulations controlling the production of the crop, and the Illinois Department of Agriculture wants to keep a handle on where and by whom hemp is being grown. Of course, with regulations come paperwork and fees. Prospective hemp producers must submit to the state an application with personal and detailed geographic information, along with a $100 application fee. Once the application has been accepted, hemp producers must pay a license fee as well. Licenses are available for $375 for one year, $700 for two years, and $1,000 for three years.
first for Blessing heart procedure
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Pike County hemp grower Dennison Collard spoke to attendees Friday, Jan. 10 in Pittsfield, during a hemp production workshop sponsored by Pike County Economic Development Corporation, Pike-Scott Farm Bureau, and University of Illinois Extension. Collard presented on production and marketing strategies for hemp in Western Illinois.
Middendorf added that producers are responsible for detailed record keeping and testing the hemp crop to ensure it does not contain the mind-altering chemical components of cannabis. “I think people were most interested in how data collection was to be done to make sure that their crop wasn’t cannabis,” Middendorf. According to Middendorf, growers can expect additional fees associated with contracting a third party lab to test the chemical content of the crop. “Especially in your first year, it’s important to test the crop at different points,” Middendorf said. Attendees heard detailed information on the technical aspects of hemp production from University of Illinois Extension Educator Phillip Alberti and Pike County hemp producer Dennison Collard, who outlined his first-year experience growing a commercial hemp crop.
By BETH ZUMWALT Pike Press Mary Eustas of rural Pearl, does not think of herself as a guinea pig, but, instead considers herself lucky. Eustas received the first Trans Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) at Blessing Hospital Dec. 18. “I had been having some heart issues and my doctor said Blessing would receive its certification to do the procedure in December,” Eustas said. “He asked me If I would wait until the hospital had certification to do the procedure.” Eustas said she had complete faith in her doctor and wanted him to do the procedure so she agreed to wait for the procedure to be certified. “He assured me if things went downhill, he would not hesitate to send me to Barnes where I could have the procedure done promptly,” Eustas said. Justas said she was abnormally tired and breathless last summer and by fall felt even worse. Tests revealed her blood flow to be the size of a drinking straw. “The doctor did a ballon procedure as a temporary fix,”Eustas said. “Then we set the date of Dec. 18 and everything went great. I have no incision. They went up through my vein and inserted the new valve. I came home from the hospital Dec. 20 and feel great.” The TVAR heart valve replacement is relatively new and is a minimally invasive procedure. It
Submitted photo
Mary Eustas, one week after having an aortic valve replaced at Blessing Hospital, the first one ever performed at the hospital.
was originally to only be available for people who were too weak to undergo open heart surgery. But now, any severe aortic stenosis patients who are experiencing symptoms can be considered for TAVR. Immediately after surgery, aortic valve replacement patients are encouraged to breathe deeply and begin conducting basic selfcare tasks. They are encouraged to eat and drink normally and to walk for exercise. Within just days to weeks following valve replacement surgery, patients regain energy and return to their normal activity as they feel able. That was a plus for Eustas, who keeps busy volunteering at Illini Community Hospital and as president of the Pike County HCE.“I just feel wonderful,” Eustas said. “Everyone at Blessing was so nice and they all took such good care of me.”